Alabama

Gubernatorial candidates spar on schools

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Candidates hoping to become Alabama's next governor agree that something needs to be done to change the way the state funds its schools.

But -- to no one's surprise -- they disagreed on exactly what changes need to take place during a nearly- two-hour forum put on by the School Superintendents of Alabama in downtown Montgomery. Some support giving local superintendents more flexibility. Some say the state needs a lottery or that it should tax gambling to generate more revenue.

To see what they said, see tomorrow's Press-Register.

Meanwhile, know that the local superintendents in attendance -- Mobile County schools Superintendent Roy Nichols, Saraland Superintendent Wayne Vickers and former superintendents of Baldwin County, Faron Hollinger, and of Mobile County and Saraland, Paul Sousa -- were paying close attention, particularly when it came to issues such as how much flexiiblity they should have in passing their local budgets.

About 80 percent of a school's budget is personnel cost. The state earmarks much of the budget, including operating expenses, transportation and other costs.

As one candidate, Bill Johnson, former director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, put it: "The first and foremost thing on your minds is how to get enough money to keep your folks employed."